Improvement in car-couplings



l.y LEWIS.

Car-Couplings.

Patented August 5, 1873.

\ 'M EAK um lvm LS1 afm UNITED STATES- PATENT (DEEIGEo IRA LEVVIS,.OF ALBION, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND CORNELIUS VAN WYCK, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN CAR-COUPLINGS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 141,445, dated August 5, 1873; application filed March 17,1873.

To all whom it may concern: A

Be it known that I, IRA B. LEWIS, of Albion, in the county of Calhoun and State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Car-Couplings; and I do declare that the following is a true and accurate description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the letters of reference marked thereon, and being a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a plan view of a pair of drawbars provided with my improved couplings, and coupled together. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a draw-bar provided with my coupling device. Fig. 3 is a similar view of the draw-bar alone. I

Like letters refer to like parts in each figure.

This invention has for its object to provide the draw-bars of railway cars of ordinary construction with a device which will enable cars so provided to automatically couple when brought together, which devices are secured to such draw-bars by the ordinary couplingpin in such a manner that they can be readily removed when it becomes necessary to couple the car with one not provided with the device. The invention consists in the peculiar construction of my coupling device, as more fully hereinafter set forth.

In the drawing, A represents a draw-bar of ordinary construction, and B the coupling-pin. C is a metallic frame, adapted to fit over the head of the draw-bar, to which it is secured by the coupling-pin B. At one side the top and bottom bars are extended laterally, and in them is journaled avertical shaft, a, carrying a coupling-hook, D, the outer end of which is thrown toward the opposite side of the frame by a spring, b, spirally coiled about the shaft a. The rear opposite end of the frame is reenforced in a vertical direction by a fillet, c, with which engages the hook of an approaching car. E is a bell-crank, journaled on top of the frame C, over the shaft a, its-lower end bearing against the short arm of the hook D, and is actuated by a lever, F, working in a notched quadrant, Gr.

By inclining the lever the hook is withdrawn from its engagement with the opposin g frame. It' the lever be placed in the upper notch, which is made deeper for that purpose, the cars will not couple on coming together. If placed in a lower notch; the concussion of the cars on coming together will release the hooks, and cause thecars to couple.

When it is found necessary to couple a car having my improved coupling device with one not so provided, my improvement is readily removed, when the said cars can be coupled with the ordinary link and pin.

What I claim as my invention, and desire the purpose set forth.

IRA B. LEWIS.

Witnesses JAMES L. MILLER, R. WHITE, 

